Cup Wins
A
1ST TEAM
EAST SUSSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE WISDENS SPORTS CHALLENGE CUP WINNERS 2017-18
The 1st team lifted the Wisdens Sports Challenge Cup, a competition open to teams in Divisions Two and Three of the East Sussex League, with a 4-0 victory over Sovereign Saints in the final played on a Monday evening under lights at the Pilot Field. The match was a personal triumph for Charlie Cornford who netted all four goals.
The road to the final…..
2ND ROUND
Having received a bye in the first round, the team were missing a number of players for the second round tie at home to Battle Baptist II and in a closely fought contest twice found themselves behind the game, equalising first through Adam Sully and then Jack Hobden to take the game into extra time.
The additional period remained goalless going into the final few minutes with penalties looking likely when Adam Sully netted his second goal to put the Casuals 3-2 up with Jack Hobden adding a fourth goal in the final minute.
3RD ROUND
In the 3rd round game away to Hollington United II, Charlie Cornford put Icklesham ahead early on before doubling the lead on 34 minutes following a fine solo run. Charlie Cornford then completed a first-half hat-trick when he fired home a free-kick in the 40th minute awarded for foul on Phil Badrock on the edge of the Hollington penalty area.
Playing with the wind in the second half, Hollington started well and put the Casuals under pressure but Icklesham had chances to increase the lead, particularly when an effort from Phil Badrock was tipped onto the bar by the Hollington goalkeeper.
Hollington pulled a goal back after 62 minutes, netting from close range after Icklesham ‘keeper Jack Davies saved an initial shot. The scoring was completed with three minutes to go when Phil Badrock finished neatly following a through ball by Jack Hobden.
Action from the game….
SEMI-FINAL
The 1st team reached the final of the competition with a comprehensive 9-1 victory over Catsfield in the semi-final.
With both Catsfield’s pitch and Icklesham Recreation Ground being unfit, the match was switched to Tilekiln and it was Icklesham who got off to a flying start with two early goals. In the 5th minute Steffan Davies was brought down on the edge of the Catsfield area and picked himself up to fire home the free-kick and he doubled the lead seven minutes later, finishing from a flicked ball across the box from Sean Baker.
Catsfield had a chance to reduce the arrears but Casuals ‘keeper Michael Watson saved at his near post before a four-goal burst in an eleven minute spell before half-time ended the contest. Jack Hobden netted in the 32nd minute having been played in by Charlie Cornford and Charlie Cornford got his first of the game two minutes later, finishing in style after Steffan Davies cut the ball back. Another Steffan Davies cross was converted at the far post by Jack Hobden after 37 minutes and Charlie Cornford scored again two minutes before half-time to give Icklesham a 6-0 interval lead.
Sean Baker converted a penalty in the 51st minute awarded when Jack Hobden was brought down by the Catsfield goalkeeper having taken the ball round him before Catsfield pulled a goal back three minutes later when Adam Barham headed home a corner. They could have added to their tally but for some good saves from Michael Watson in the Icklesham goal.
Charlie Cornford completed his hat-trick just before the hour when he scored from an excellent cross from Jack Hobden and Kieran Dighton netted the final goal of the game in the 79th minute firing into the roof of the net following a corner.
Action from the game….
THE FINAL
Team photograph taken before the final…..
Icklesham Casuals won the first East Sussex Football League Cup Final of the season on Monday, 9th April when they lifted the Wisdens Sports Challenge Cup with a 4-0 victory over Sovereign Saints.
In an evenly contested opening period, both sides had half-chances with Jack Davies and his opposite number in the Saints goal making saves. Icklesham took the lead on the half-hour mark when Charlie Cornford’s finish bobbled into the back of the net and Charlie Cornford doubled the lead four minutes later when he neatly lifted the ball past the advancing Saints ‘keeper.
Sovereign Saints, who the previous Wednesday were victorious in the final of the Sussex Junior Cup, put the Casuals under pressure as half-time approached and a pivotal moment came in stoppage time when a cross was cleared and Jack Davies could only watch as a follow-up shot from the edge of the area came back off the foot of the post.
Icklesham took advantage of the escape in the early minutes of the second half when Charlie Cornford received a pass from Steffan Davies and beat two Sovereign Saints defenders before firing into the net to complete his hat-trick.
The deficit was almost reduced mid-way through the half when the ball narrowly failed to cross the line following a goalmouth scramble in the Casuals’ area but in the 74th minute Charlie Cornford put the result beyond doubt when his initial shot was saved before it fell to Steffan Davies and then Charlie Cornford again who netted the rebound for his fourth goal of the match.
This was a deserved victory in a game that was played in an excellent spirit throughout, with every Icklesham player contributing to the win. Congratulations to manager Michael Rogers and his side on a brilliant night.
With regular captain Sean Baker missing the final as he was in America, it was Ollie Beaumont who lifted the trophy, becoming the first Icklesham Casuals 1st team captain to do so in a final since Bob Baker raised the Eastbourne and Hastings League Division One Cup in 1987. In his last season as treasurer of the East Sussex Football League, the trophy was presented to Ollie Beaumont by David Mayne.
The Club were grateful to the East Sussex Football League and Hastings United F C for organising and staging the final, Wisdens Sports for sponsoring the competition and all those who came along to support the team.
The trophy and medal presentation…..
Team photograph after winning the cup…..
The celebrations…..
Match Report
Cup Grid
